After proteomics and genomics, lipidomics promises to be the next emerging field of research in the bioscience industry. Its potential use in healthcare, including disease prediction and diagnosis, has led Singapore to step up its focus on the lipidomics research front. This South East Asian city-state is one-of-the-first countries to explore the potentials of lipidomics. It has entered into a number of collaborations with the industry at the global level in order to initiate research in the field to strengthen its knowledge base.

Lipidomics is an emerging field of biomedical research that includes analysis of all the lipids present in a biological system known as a lipidome. The study involves systems-level identification and networks of cellular lipids molecular species and their interactions with other lipids and proteins. Analysis of the lipid is indicated for application in the fields of pharmaceuticals, medicine and nutrition.

Singapore taps research potential
National University of Singapore, which is pioneering the research in lipidomics in Singapore, has tied up with Agilent Technologies to share expertise and knowledge in the area of analytical lipidomics for creating new classes of biomedical research tools and therapies. The two are collaborating on research projects, consultancies, customized training programs and workshops, to advance the level of knowledge in the field of lipidomics.

The city-state has also established a non-profit multi-center initiative, LipidProfiles, anchored within National University of Singapore. The set-up includes research and educational activities to develop novel tools that will provide deeper insights into the role of lipids. It connects national and international laboratories, research programs and industry, developing a base for sharing the rich knowledge and talent pool.

The Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING) is another initiative that functions as a global magnet to draw collaborations in the field from both the academia and the industry. While delivering new technologies and intellectual capital in lipidomics, it also ensure high participation of Asian universities in the research and development programs.